Charlotte Community Connections

Today, we're talking about a stage of life that every woman will experience, yet so many of us feel completely unprepared for it: menopause.  Maybe you've noticed the weight creeping on, you're forgetting things you never used to forget, you're exhausted even after a full night's sleep, or your emotions seem all over the place. You may have even wondered, "What's happening to me?" The answer...

May may be over, but the conversation around mental health is far from finished. In a world where stress, burnout, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion have become increasingly common, many are asking an important question: Are we truly prioritizing mental wellness — or has mental health simply become another buzzword? Today, we’re joined by Kristyn Bly , a certified clinical therapist in Charlotte ,...

Today, we’re celebrating history, culture, and a legacy nearly three decades in the making. The Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas, now in its 29th year, is the longest-running Juneteenth festival in the region — but its story began with one man’s vision to educate and unite a community. When Pap Ndiaye moved to Charlotte from New York in 1997, bringing his dreams and House of Africa with him, f...

The Boys of Promise Leadership Program is designed to support male students through leadership development, social emotional learning, accountability, academic encouragement. We sat down with 3 young scholars to discuss this importance of mentors as an adolescent  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-inf...

Today we’re talking about something every young person needs but doesn’t always get — real-world preparation for life beyond the classroom. In Charlotte , organizations like A Giving Heart Project and The Exposure Project are stepping up to change that.  Through their upcoming Reality Check/Life Lab , teens are getting hands-on experience with the skills that matter most — from resume buildin...

Yandrick Paraison- Founder and President of Diversity in Sports Hub is a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing access, exposure, and opportunity for young adults pursuing careers in the sports industry. Through career forums, mentorship, and strategic partnerships with leagues, teams, and corporations, the organization prepares and connects talent to real pathways across sports business, medi...

There are some stories that stop us in our tracks. Stories that force us to confront painful truths about violence against women, domestic abuse, and the devastating consequences of silence. Today’s conversation comes in the wake of unimaginable tragedy—the deaths of Tammy McCollum , Dr. Cerina Fairfax , and Nancy Metayer — women whose lives were taken at the hands of the men they once loved. Thei...

Some conversations are difficult—but necessary.  Today, we’re talking about loss… the kind that changes you forever. The loss of a child. The loss of a mother. The kind of grief that too many families carry, often in silence.  We’ve just recognized Black Maternal Health Awareness Week here in North Carolina—a time to bring attention to the stark disparities that continue t...

This week on community connection, we are in the community to speak with the MENtors of the City.  We discuss the importance of mentorship, as well as the benefits of having a mentor.  Joining us today we have Brantly Grier- Leap of Faith Consultants, Ahmad  Lanier- Fit Kids For Life and Vice President of The Fatherhood Empowerment Network, and Rufus Lockheart- Owner of The Fatherhood Empowerment...

Success doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built through vision, discipline, resilience, and the courage to keep going when the path isn’t clear.  Today on  Community Connections , we’re joined by  Sonja Nichols —a philanthropist, entrepreneur, published author, trusted advisor, and a powerful force in Charlotte’s business and nonprofit communiti...

Charlotte is growing fast—and with that growth comes an important question: how do we move more than a million people across a region that spans hundreds of square miles?  Public transit plays a critical role in connecting people to jobs, healthcare, education, and opportunity. Here in Mecklenburg County, the  Charlotte Area Transit System , better known as CATS, operates dozen...

March is  Women’s History Month , a time to celebrate the voices, stories, and impact of women who have shaped culture and inspired generations.  On this episode of  Community Connections with Janine Davis , we’re joined by  Sunshine Anderson , a  Charlotte  native whose music became the voice of a generation navigating love, heartbreak, and resilience. Her...

March is Women’s History Month—a time to celebrate the women who shape our communities, break barriers, and make history in ways both big and small. On this episode, we’re shining a light on two true movers and shakers. Two women who grew up in small towns, went to college with big dreams, and today are running their own businesses.  We’re joined by  Rhonda Caldwell ,...

Affordable housing isn’t just a national conversation—it’s a growing crisis right here in  Charlotte . Rapid population growth, rising home prices, and a severe shortage of affordable homes are putting intense pressure on families across our region. Today, only a small fraction of rental housing is considered affordable, and with median home prices hovering around $444,000—requ...

Israel United in Christ (IUIC) is a Bible-based organization started in 2003 in NY that dedicates their time gathering the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel. At the heart of the IUIC's mission is the belief that the Black, Hispanics, and Native Americans communities represents the true and historical descendants of the Biblical Israelites. They also dedicate their time to organizing community clea...

On this episode, we are highlighting a place where purpose meets impact — the  Autism Achievers Center   in  Gastonia . Their mission is clear and simple: to help young people achieve life skills daily . Every day, this center focuses on helping children and young adults with autism develop independence, confidence, and practical skills that extend far beyond the...

 Today’s conversation is an important one because mental and behavioral health challenges affect far more people than we often realize. Here in  Mecklenburg County , roughly  one in five adults reports living with a mental health condition , and thousands of residents experience days each month when their mental health isn’t where it need...

There are moments during interviews when you can feel the work being done is bigger than titles, bigger than programs, and bigger than checklists. My conversation with Tamara Satterfield , Graduation Specialist and Advisor of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools was one of those moments. At the heart of everything Tam shared was one powerful theme: the Stud...

We are taking a closer look at what’s happening in York County, South Carolina — the progress being made, the challenges ahead, and the traditions that continue to bring the community together, including the longest-running Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in the area.  Joining us are two respected community leaders: Steve Love, founder of Folkways CDC, Regional Director for the South Carolina S...

In the early morning hours of January 22, 2026, volunteers will fan out across Charlotte-Mecklenburg with one shared purpose: to make sure everybody counts. Preparations are now underway for the 2026 Point-in-Time Count, a community-wide effort to identify people living without stable housing and to better understand the reality of homelessness in our region.  The Point-in-Time Coun...

Today, we’re exploring the remarkable work being done at Echelon Care in Charlotte, North Carolina—an organization dedicated to transforming the lives of at-risk youth, adults, and families through person-centered, evidence-based support. We'll learn about the founder's incredible journey and the fuel of having a drug-addicted father that lit his fire to build the agency. We’ll explore h...

Research shows people who are comfortable promoting themselves are more successful in landing a job from an interview, building stronger networks, and are more successful in business and throughout their careers. In the book “Stop Playing Safe” by Margie Warrell, she says the old saying, “it’s not what you know, but who you know,” is NOT the case anymore. She says today it’s “WHO knows what YOU kn...

On November 15th, federal immigration agents rolled into Charlotte under “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” and our city changed overnight. Within the first 48 hours, officials reported about 130 arrests, and by mid-week that number climbed to roughly 370 arrests across Charlotte and nearby areas.  Just two days after agents hit the streets, the impact on kids showed up in a big, painful numbe...

When you meet Ms. Deb, the founder of Block Love Charlotte, the first thing you feel is her heart. It’s a heart shaped by experience, strengthened by resilience, and poured daily into the people she calls her “block family.” She knows firsthand how isolating homelessness can be. The fear, the uncertainty, the longing to simply be seen. Out of that lived journey, she built something extra...

She says she was having the hardest season of her life. As a result, she had a nervous breakdown. Or as the National Institute of Mental Health describes it, she experienced a mental health challenge. Her name is Brandi Williams . Brandi’ did seek therapy after her nervous breakdown, but what happened in between the sessions, or when girlfriends weren’t available to fill the gap. She created Soul...